Is this some kind of special trim?

[vision-quest]

I found this while looking for my own 3rd gen. They claim near immaculate condition inside and out. Weird thing is, I thought the SR5 didn't have woodgrain interiors, but it's badged as an SR5. It also has gold badges instead of silver, and the front has a black grill. Anyone know what's up with this? All just customs mods?

 

[UnderFire]

Gold badges were an option, and I think the grill and license plate bezel were painted black at some point.

 

[Masterbaiter]

Also you could get woodgrain in an SR5

 

[Nervo19]

I bought a '97 SR5 new and the dealer added the gold Mr. T starter kit emblems and the wood trim interior. I had a choice of several wood grains. They were aftermarket and I remember not liking the Toyota wood choices. I'm ashamed to say I paid for all that. So it's definitely possible it's an add on.

 

[TheDurk]

As I recall, they wanted $400 for those gold badges in '99 when I bought my SR5. I said, No, thanks. My GF at the time liked the woodgrain, so I got them to throw that in for free. They got ugly, but I have successfully refinished them, by removing and trashing the awful plastic laminate, and sanding, staining and polyurethaning the wood underneath. (Yes. it's real wood under there, contrary to popular opinion.) These were not aftermarket; they were identical to what came on the Limited. They have the Toyota logo branded into the wood.

 

[vision-quest]

Interesting, thanks guys. So it's probably just standard with the gold and woodgrain options, with the front grill being the only real modification?

 

[vision-quest]

This is out of state, what questions should I be asking before going to look at this car? I would be willing to travel if I knew I would buy it but I don't want to go all the way there to find it's no good.

I would normally ask for a clean car fax (they have stated one owner but I haven't asked about the car fax yet), condition of outside and inside (they've said near mint condition), any rust on the bottom, any weird noises.

Anything I'm missing?

 

[HiLife]

If it has an auto trans, (if I were you) I would like to know when was the last time they recall the radiator was changed.
I would wonder if they had the pink milkshake at one point or another. Thus, the reason they are selling it.
You don't want to buy the 4R now only to buy another trans for it later down the road.

 

[vision-quest]

If it has an auto trans, (if I were you) I would like to know when was the last time they recall the radiator was changed.
I would wonder if they had the pink milkshake at one point or another. Thus, the reason they are selling it.
You don't want to buy the 4R now only to buy another trans for it later down the road.

Sorry, are you able to go into a little more detail on this for me? I'm kind of mechanically challenged (hoping to change that with this truck). I have heard of the pink milkshake issue, how would they know if it wasn't mentioned on the carfax? I just spoke to the guy on the phone, the car was originally from Arizona and had some sun damage to the paint on the hood and side so they completely resprayed the car with a good fresh coat. Looks really clean.. and the carfax shows an oil change every 5k miles (41 records) and no accidents. One owner.

 

[xspsi6]

It has painted bumpers and fog lights which were limited only I thought?
On my 01 I added painted bumpers and fogs to complete the look I call it the sr5 limited

 

[HiLife]

Doubt it CarFax will report a radiator change. I would send out feeler words while talking to the owner and read back what ever he says. Does he know when was the last time he did a trans fluid change? When was the last time he did a trans filter change?
Other than that it will be almost impossible to by the looks of the trans fluid alone. If you were there in person to look over the car you could tell if it has a fairly new radiator.
Only thing you can go by being at a distance from the selling owner of the car is that he is honest with all parts of the 4R, and the little clues he gives while talking to him.

 

[vision-quest]

Doubt it CarFax will report a radiator change. I would send out feeler words while talking to the owner and read back what ever he says. Does he know when was the last time he did a trans fluid change? When was the last time he did a trans filter change?
Other than that it will be almost impossible to by the looks of the trans fluid alone. If you were there in person to look over the car you could tell if it has a fairly new radiator.
Only thing you can go by being at a distance from the selling owner of the car is that he is honest with all parts of the 4R, and the little clues he gives while talking to him.

Sorry, are you saying it's a good thing if it has recently had its radiator changed, or a bad thing? Radiators aren't that expensive right?

 

[HiLife]

Well, what happens on the pink milkshake is the trans cooler section in the radiator ruptures and mixes trans fluid with anti freeze coolant.
When this happens the coolant mixing with the trans clutches does major damage to them. Results of it is maybe not right, or it could be somewhere down the line.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/82033-3rd-gen-4runner-buyers-guide.html#post706218
Doing a trans flush, running a cleaner in the cooling system then flushing using fresh Toyota red coolant and replacing with a new radiator is the way to recover from a pink milkshake.

When the trans starts to act up from being in the pink milkshake condition the only way for fix it is to rebuild the trans ($3800), or to replace it with a junk yard one around $800.

Im not saying that the 4R that your looking into has this happening. It's just something to watch out for and be aware of. The pics looks great and encouraging. Just got to be aware.

Good luck with your search.

 

[zacattack20]

Looks to be a 2000 Sport Edition with added on stuff.
(Gold badges, the wood trim looks to be the cheaper peel and stick version.)

Has the hood scoop.
Not an SR5.

 

[vision-quest]

Well, what happens on the pink milkshake is the trans cooler section in the radiator ruptures and mixes trans fluid with anti freeze coolant.
When this happens the coolant mixing with the trans clutches does major damage to them. Results of it is maybe not right, or it could be somewhere down the line.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/82033-3rd-gen-4runner-buyers-guide.html#post706218
Doing a trans flush, running a cleaner in the cooling system then flushing using fresh Toyota red coolant and replacing with a new radiator is the way to recover from a pink milkshake.

When the trans starts to act up from being in the pink milkshake condition the only way for fix it is to rebuild the trans ($3800), or to replace it with a junk yard one around $800.

Im not saying that the 4R that your looking into has this happening. It's just something to watch out for and be aware of. The pics looks great and encouraging. Just got to be aware.

Good luck with your search.

OK thank you so much. I'll be sure to ask him if there's any record of a radiator or transmission issue.

 

[vision-quest]

Looks to be a 2000 Sport Edition with added on stuff.
(Gold badges, the wood trim looks to be the cheaper peel and stick version.)

Has the hood scoop.
Not an SR5.

I was thinking the same thing. Thanks for the confirmation.

 

[ajonesnv]

As I recall, they wanted $400 for those gold badges in '99 when I bought my SR5. I said, No, thanks. My GF at the time liked the woodgrain, so I got them to throw that in for free. They got ugly, but I have successfully refinished them, by removing and trashing the awful plastic laminate, and sanding, staining and polyurethaning the wood underneath. (Yes. it's real wood under there, contrary to popular opinion.) These were not aftermarket; they were identical to what came on the Limited. They have the Toyota logo branded into the wood.

You by chance have a write up on this?? Mine is getting pretty bad and was thinking of redoing it.

 

[02SE]

Looks to be a 2000 Sport Edition with added on stuff.
(Gold badges, the wood trim looks to be the cheaper peel and stick version.)

Has the hood scoop.
Not an SR5.

The Sport Edition packages were an optional package added to the SR5's. So all Sport Editions are in fact SR5's.

The Sport Edition packages included the fake hood scoop, and color-keyed bumpers.

The stick-on wood kits were an available Toyota option. Aftermarket companies also sold stick-on wood kits.

 

[TheDurk]

You by chance have a write up on this?? Mine is getting pretty bad and was thinking of redoing it.

I don't. I learned how off the BMW e23 Roadfly forum years ago when I spruced up my now long-dead 1985 735i. I tried to go back and find a write-up for you. I was amazed my login there is still good but their search function is worse than here; it just kept maxing out on hits no matter what I wrote. There are several threads on this in there somewhere among 25k + threads going back to the dawn of the internet.

In a nutshell:

1. Get the damn plastic off and throw it away. Mine was starting to peel, and it didn't take much encouragement. I just sort of do them as they start to fall apart. Heat and soaking would probably accelerate the separation but I haven't tried it.

2. Lightly sand with first 300 and then 600 grit sandpaper. The wood laminate is REALLY THIN, so go easy. But it is REAL WOOD. Some aftermarket pieces may not be, however.

3. Find a Minwax wood stain you like. I used natural for a much yellower color. I used red oak on the BMW which is probably close to what Toyota had--darker and redder. There are lots of other choices. Both I used were nice. Follow directions on can.

4. Apply four or five coats of Minwax PolyUrethane, sanding with 600 grit and then tack cloth between each coat.

It takes time, but nothing real challenging. Every few years you will want to touch up the topcoat.

 

[MuddyButt]

Looks nice. Its always a risk with used cars. Only real way to tell if it is in good order is by test driving it. I test drove a 4runner that was immaculate on the outside but drove like crap and then I test drove one that wasn't so immaculate on the outside but had a strong and smooth running motor. Both had there positives and negatives but i chose the engine over beauty but if i had waited longer I probably could have had both. And for a better price...